A or An?
Practice “a” and “an” with everyday words. Listen to the first sound, not just the first letter.
Preview
Questions with solutions-
1. Täytä tyhjä kohta.
This is ___ apple.
- a
- an
Listen to the first sound in “apple.”
Show solution
This is an apple.
Use “an” before a vowel sound, as in “an apple.”
-
2. Täytä tyhjä kohta.
I have ___ book.
- a
- an
Listen to the “b” sound in “book.”
Show solution
I have a book.
Use “a” before a consonant sound, like the “b” in “book.”
-
3. Täytä tyhjä kohta.
Here is ___ egg.
- a
- an
Say “egg” slowly. What sound comes first?
Show solution
Here is an egg.
“An egg” means one egg. “Egg” starts with a vowel sound.
-
4. Täytä tyhjä kohta.
I need ___ cup.
- a
- an
Think about the sound of “c” in “cup.”
Show solution
I need a cup.
“Cup” starts with a “k” sound, so we say “a cup.”
-
5. Valitse oikea vastaus.
Mia: “What do you want to eat?”
Sam:- A sandwich, please.
- An sandwich, please.
Listen to the first sound in “sandwich.”
Show solution
- A sandwich, please.
“Sandwich” starts with a consonant sound. Adding “please” makes the request polite.
-
6. Valitse oikea vastaus.
Nora: “It's raining. What do you need?”
Ben:- A umbrella.
- An umbrella.
Say the beginning of “umbrella” aloud.
Show solution
- An umbrella.
“Umbrella” begins with a vowel sound. The first sound tells us to use “an.”
-
7. Täytä tyhjä kohta.
That is ___ old bike.
- a
- an
Which word comes right after the gap?
Show solution
That is an old bike.
Listen to “old,” not “bike.” Its vowel sound makes this “an old bike.”
-
8. Täytä tyhjä kohta.
I have ___ red apple.
- a
- an
The word right after the gap is “red.”
Show solution
I have a red apple.
We say “an apple,” but “a red apple.” The sound right after “a” or “an” is important.
-
9. Täytä tyhjä kohta.
She has ___ orange hat.
- a
- an
Listen to the color word, not “hat.”
Show solution
She has an orange hat.
An extra word can change “a” to “an”: “a hat,” but “an orange hat.”
-
10. Täytä tyhjä kohta.
He is ___ English teacher.
- a
- an
What is the first sound in “English”?
Show solution
He is an English teacher.
The next word is “English,” not “teacher.” Its vowel sound gives us “an English teacher.”
-
11. Täytä tyhjä kohta.
The class starts in ___ hour.
- a
- an
Do you hear an “h” sound when you say “hour”?
Show solution
The class starts in an hour.
The “h” in “hour” is silent. “Hour” sounds like “our,” so we say “an hour.”
-
12. Täytä tyhjä kohta.
There is ___ university near my home.
- a
- an
Does “university” start like “umbrella” or like “you”?
Show solution
There is a university near my home.
“University” begins with a “you” sound. We use “a” before this sound, even with the letter “u.”